Dennis Tutty
Balmain’s former Test forward Dennis Tutty was named man of the match after the Tigers defeated a gritty Brisbane Brothers side 19-3 in an Amco Cup quarter final played on a bog at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval.
Balmain team manager, Terry Parker, a former first grade centre, said he expected the game to be transferred to Brisbane and was surprised it went ahead on what he described as close to the worst playing surface he had ever seen.
The only clean break of the match was made by Brothers’ tall second rower, Bob Cock, who along with Tigers’ prop Keith Cook, pressed Tutty for Man of the Match honours.
Brothers, coached by John Lohman, were the last surviving Brisbane side in the Trans-Tasman knockout tournament. The Fighting Irish had beaten Penrith at Lang Park in Round 1 and then New South Wales Northern Division in a round 2 game at Leichhardt.
Balmain, playing on their home ground, over-powered Brothers through the sheer weight of possession, winning the scrums 17-6. Brothers’ hooker, Greg Keane, making his first grade debut, scored his side’s only try.
Halfback John Herlihy was a late withdrawal with Brisbane television cameraman Shane Dyson a more than capable replacement. Balmain led only 5-3 at halftime with skipper/centre Trevor Ryan scoring a try which was converted by Cook. In the second half Balmain scored four tries with Ryan crossing again while Allan McMahon, Jeff Shield and former Brothers’ prop, Dennis Manteit also scored. Manteit had won Brisbane premierships with Brothers – in 1967 and ’68. Halfback, Greg Cox kicked a second half goal for the Tigers. Sydney referee, Kevin Roberts awarded Brothers 13 penalties to 12.
Brothers’ 1975 props David Wright and Peter McNamara were two of the best players on the field. Balmain were coached by Paul Broughton, who had taken Brothers to the 1974 Brisbane Grand Final. One of Balmain’s reserves was former Brothers’ hooker Barry Jensen. Another former Brothers’ player, Graham Roberts was unavailable for the Tigers because of injury. Arthur Mountier was Balmain’s starting hooker.
Dubbed ‘The Man who Fought City Hall,’ Dennis Tutty was a fine athlete having helped NSW win the 1965 Kings Cup (rowing) in Perth. He played the 1964 and ’65 seasons with Balmain as an amateur. After representing Australia in rugby league against the Kiwis in 1967, Tutty sought a release from Balmain at the end of 1968 and when the club refused took them to court, sitting out the 1969 and 1970 seasons. He returned to the Tigers in 1971 while the matter was still before the courts, and ultimately his stance was justified with the transfer system thrown out. Tutty played with Penrith and Easts before returning to Balmain.
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